Chapter 3: The Eastern Forest
The Easter forest, filled with dense vegetation. With the help of the Primordial energy, trees being nourished by the pure base energy, towering hundreds of meters high. Plants and animals also mutate under the influence of the condition of the environment, making them more valuable and rarer than they already are.
It is also the most popular hunting ground for the adventurers. Because the monsters are abundant in the territory and rare alchemy ingredients are to be found.
Also, it is believed to be the fastest way to travel through the Middle layer of the Dark Forest. If you are brave to venture deep that is.
The other reason is that unlike the other three territories, the condition of the environment is friendly enough that people could stay for a long period of time.
Thousands of people flock in there to do a quest and other objectives like finding rare treasure and just to hone their survival skills.
That is why on the outskirt of the territory has a trading city hub. It is bustling with activity as raw materials that came from the forest could be sold and bought by the merchants that live in the city.
But danger lurks deep within the Eastern Forest. The more you travel deep the stronger monster will become.
Even though for hundreds of thousands of years, civilizations come and go. Countless expedition tried to explore the Eastern Forest but it is still a mystery until to this day.
Empires in the past tried to map the Eastern Forest in order to build a settlement for their people, but for an unknown reason, the geography seemingly shifted or becomes inaccurate after a period of time.
That is why the Adventurer’s Guild set people specialized with geography to update Dark Forrest on a yearly basis to avoid confusion and tragedy to the people.
It is believed that the Mystical races called Elves lived deep within the Eastern Forest. Unfortunately, they are one of the races that choose secluded themselves after the Great Race war.
Their past was painful, they have become almost extinct. Few untouched tribes remain and learned the dreadful atrocities other kind did to their kin decided to hide out of fear of being extinct and continue the legacy of their fallen brothers and sister.
Legend says that a Tree Titan bears fruits one day containing the first-generation Elves incubating.
Each one of them possesses unimaginable mana capacity. An average Elf possesses Level 5 Magic or higher, depending on their status in the society.
This is why different factions desire their bloodline, enslaving, and impregnating them to produce half Elves with power and a high level of beauty.
It is still a mystery why powerful race like Elves being pushed back by the other races considering individuals is much stronger than a dozen people of different races.
Probably their birth rate is much lower than the rest, outnumbering them or that they have grown conceit of their abilities, lowering their guards.
The coming years that the Elves have not seen, those who have a hint of Elven bloodline becomes desirable to those in power as it is becoming rarer to find pure Elves as they vanish.
It is not surprising because aside from their inherent talent, they can also live much longer than the rest.
At the present time, it is not rare knowledge that the majority of the Kingdoms and Empires elite have a hint of Elven blood in the base on their slightly long ear feature and inherited abilities that only the Elves have.
They can also live three times longer than the rest, further legitimizing their rules and longevity of their households.
People still believe Elves reside within deep in Easter Forest as they are known to be children of the forest.
Lately, a certain rumor made the people exited.
There was a sighting of an Elf floating by the city's bustling taverns. It has been a hot topic lately because multiple groups have seen the said mystical Elf.
Merchants, nobles, and even slavers have taken the rumor seriously. So, the already bustling city hub becoming more populous as notable figures along with their entourages traveling from across the continent going into its city every day.
If it is proven the said sightings of an Elf to be true, it would cause earthquakes across the realm. It will prove that a group of them still exist. It is still unknown their reappearance is good or bad news, but one thing is certain, they are desirable to others.
Just like happening now.
Two groups of people are currently fighting. The first group composed of kinds of different kinds of people. Humans, Orcs, Reptilians, and humans with mixed features. They wore shabby armors that would not protect the wearer from a sword strike of a veteran warrior.
There was an Orc with a large fat body that appears to be the only one in the first group that is not fighting. He is placing himself at the rear where he is protected away from the battle. Unlike the rest of the group who looked like bandits. He wore luxurious clothes with gold embroidery only fit for nobles to wear.
But clothes alone would not hide the man of its nature. His belly is round and big that the garment’s button probably would burst in the air at any moment.
As he looked at the person that is sleeping on the ground that is being tied by ropes all over its body that one can only squirm helplessly.
While his companion risking their lives and has already lost a few of their lives, the fat Orc’s eyes never left sight of the captive person sleeping on the ground. The look in his eyes that seemingly found a treasure that is excited at the same time desire to possess and contain, only he alone must possess.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
One look at his face would identify this man as a greedy scoundrel that should not be trusted.
“I command you to give us the girl!”
A Human with shining silver armor arrogantly shouted as he fights his way through the bandit group and slowly getting nearer.
Unlike the first group, the second group consists of knights from a certain empire. They are the White Knights of the Albion Empire. It is one of the most powerful organizations on Aswerth continent. It is also the home to the only religion of humanity ever acknowledges, the Church of Light. Their influence goes far and wide.
But this time, their influence worth nothing in front of this bandit like group consists of different kinds of people. Even weak men would become brave when fighting for treasures.
“HAHAHA! Why should I listen to you, a mere Knight Leader? Once you step into this place, your social standing outside means nothing here. You should ask the boy prince if I’m telling the truth. Oh, wait! He’s dead Gahahahaa!!!”
At a certain distance, a corpse of a boy is seen fifteen to sixteen years of age. A looked of surprise appear on his face as his eyes were open wide as if he couldn't believe to die in this place.
There was a single arrow in struck in the forehead, a clean hit on the front. With powerful guards guarding the boy, it is impossible for him to get hurt in the conflict. Suggesting that he was shot stealthily by an experienced marksman.
“The Albion Empire will not forgive this transgression! You all must die! Battle formation!”
All 30 Knights that are still alive started running for their Knight leader, ignoring the ones they're fighting. But would the group of bandits would allow them to organize? So, they tried their best to halt each of their own prospective enemies.
Unfortunately, the bandits are dealing with a trained troop, so the majority successfully arrives and goes to their own position as they've trained for hundreds of times.
The formation is called Light Circle formation where the leader is at the center of the circle while the Knights encircle the Leader. Soon their armors began to glow silvery light. This kind of formation is a defensive type of magic formation meant to confront a large number of Undead creatures. But it is being used to confront the living, lowering their effectiveness.
Still, there are still more than a hundred bandits left, outnumbering them 4 to 1, but with the formation’s ability to synchronize with the one close to you, gaining extra feeling and vision, their amazing teamwork filled the gap of the opening.
“Are you a fool or what?! I don’t even live there! You on the other hand should think a way how to explain your little master’s death. If you can escape to this place that is”
“All will be forgiven after the girl’s capture!” the Knight leader shouted in unknightly reply.
The fat Orc find it ridiculous that an Empire like theirs, could impose their own justice to others, disregarding their origins. This was the common norm for large Empires like Albion as they have grown large ego as their Empire growing.
Also, for an Empire as big and powerful as Albion, Prince and Princesses are numbered to a hundred. It would mean nothing if one or two died in the hand’s bandits. But it is another story if the said royal children are a genius with a lot of potentials to be a ruler as they are to be nurtured. That is why Emperors have tons of children in order to pick the best of them to become the next Emperor.
Unfortunately for a team leader like him, he was assigned to guard a lecherous and useless Prince. But his brother from the same mother on the other hand is the Crown prince. That’s why he has guards considering his relation to his big brother. Probably a retaliation would come soon should the knights survive.
Surprisingly, the Fat Orc is not worried about the bandits being quickly killed one by one. Suddenly, a mage staff that looked like vines with an orb at its head appears in the hand of the Fat Orc. The staff began to glow green and soon shot green projectiles in multiple directions and finally striking to the struggling bandits.
Once the green glow absorbs into the body of the bandits, transformation occurs. Their body suddenly becomes twice large, and eyes turn red.
(Growling!)
(Roar!)
Suddenly they disregard their defense and start attacking like a madman, ignoring the injury they're taking as they fearlessly confront the Knights who were surprised to the newfound strength of their enemies. They completely turned into mindless beasts.
“B-Berserkers! You! You’re a shaman! The Confederation!”
The Knight Leader quickly realized they were not dealing with bandits, but from the Confederation. The Confederation is the largest and most diverse group of people. They mostly composed of non-human races. It is not a country, but an alliance of non-human races that you know of.
There was a time where the humans have an edge when it comes to technology and took advantage of their power to enslave the beast-men. "Beast men" That’s what the humans collectively called all the non-human races.
The Confederation was created to oppose humans and stole many of their technology and making their own versions.
The Shaman profession is one of them. It is the human version of Enchanter. But unlike the Enchanter’s diverse buff, the shaman has a smaller number of skills, but it compensates with high affinity with nature magic.
The profession is a closely guarded secret that only the high members of the Hundred Clans which rule the Confederation could acquire.
That’s why the Knight’s Team Leader quickly recognize the Fat Orc’s origin.
“That’s correct. Allow me to introduce myself I’m the Heir of the Juster Clan, member of the Hundred Clan of The Confederation, Doe Juster at your service”
The Fat Orc greeted the Knights with a noble bow, but his round stomach failed him midway. But still, shamelessly pretend it was normal.
The Knight Leader’s expression turns from serious to anger. The Knights helplessly on the defensive and sooner than later, their formation will soon run out of power then the Berserkers will attack more relentlessly.
“In that case, I have nothing to lose. I Frederick Merd, Knight leader of the Silver platoon will fight to the death, I will be taking you with me in hell!”
In desperation, The Knight leader Frederick activates his bloodline ability. It enables him to gain a burst of strength in exchange for a bit of his lifespan. He becomes much faster and stronger as he begins slashing the Berserkers one by one and moving forward toward the Fat Orc called Doe Juster.
“Hahaha! Who knows, I would encounter an ancient family member here! A fitting enemy for the likes of me. Once you are dead, I’ll make a bowl out of your skull as a wine bowl!” Joe Juster Exclaimed.
“Right back at you!” Frederick angrily replied.
Both sides are ready to attack. Doe Juster’s staff began to glow as if recharging to attack. Frederick also almost reaches Doe Juster as his sword also began to glow with silvery light.
When both sides are ready to unleash both their most powerful attack. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a large ball of black fire landed near their area. The impact causes Shockwave around the site, tall trees topple like wheat in the windstorm.
Both sides are blasted away and more than half of their troops died or seriously injured. For doe Juster, He has abilities to produce a shield around him passively when attack unexpectedly, saving him and the Elven captive.
As for Frederick, he had activated his bloodline beforehand gaining him a large boost of defense. It doesn’t mean both unharmed.
Both their manual and physical strength is exhausted just to defend from the Shockwave.
(Cough) “What happened?” Frederick is buried by tons of rubbles got up and stared at the direction.
“Hmm” Doe juster becomes serious as he squinted his eyes looking in the same direction. But for him who is more sensitive to energy became nervous.
(Pulsing sounds)
A pulsing sound is heard in that certain direction. At the same time black flames raging in the area of the blast site as it reaches hundreds of meters high. With their distance proximity to the blast being short and how big the flame is. You would think to feel hot, but it was not the case for this dark flame.
It was the feeling of cold at the same time not cold. The feeling that the observers feel came from their souls.
Slow, little by little that you would not feel a thing, souls of the living are being sucked to that direction.
Soon the pulsing stops and the Black flame suddenly disappeared. Leaving the surrounding completely charred black.
To be continued: Next chapter: The Demons